title: Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease: an international multicentre scoring system.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease is being studied by the World Organisation of Gastroenterology (OMGE) Research Committee in a survey (currently) affecting 1696 patients presenting to 30 hospitals in 16 countries. A computer-aided diagnostic prediction system (when tested in 1056 patients) showed an accuracy of match between computer prediction and clinical diagnosis in 94% of these patients. Most centres, however, do not possess appropriate computing facilities. A simple diagnostic "scoring system", based on likelihood ratios, has therefore been developed, using a series of numbers set out on a single sheet of paper. The overall accuracy of the simple scoring system in the same 1056 patients was equivalent (93%) to the computer-aided system. In a further series of 510 "new" patients from eight fresh centres the diagnostic scoring system made a firm prediction in 490 cases (96%). Where made, the accuracy of match between the scoring system prediction and clinical diagnosis was 96%. It is suggested that this simple system, which requires no analytical resource and could be used by any gastroenterologist, might be of some value in clinical research and clinical practice.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies